Exodus 4:19, The Virgin Birth, part V of V

Now the Lord has said to Moses in Midian, “Go back to Egypt, for all the men who wanted to kill you are dead.”

//For five days, we’ve been discussing why most Liberal Christians assume the virgin birth stories in the Bible are not meant to be read as history. For the final argument, we want to introduce Matthew’s penchant for midrash—in other words, the way in which Matthew compared Jesus to other men of God through story, an exegetical technique quite common in Jewish circles.

A close look at Matthew’s birth story shows a striking parallel to the Hebrew heroes Moses and Abraham. Remember Herod’s “slaughter of the innocents” in Matthew? Well, according to Jewish legends, Abraham’s birth is also signaled by the appearance of a huge star, by which astrologers predict a great ruler. They inform their king, Nimrod, who slaughters seventy thousand children.

Recall that Moses, too, just happened to be born at a time when the king had ordered male infanticide. Read what Josephus has to say in Jewish Antiquities about Moses: One of the sacred scribes … announced to the king that there would be born to the Israelites at that time one who would abase the sovereignty of the Egyptians and exalt the Israelites, were he reared to manhood, and would surpass all men in virtue and win everlasting renown. Alarmed thereat, the king on this sage’s advice, ordered that every male child born to the Israelites should be destroyed by being cast into the river.

In other words, like Jesus, Moses was the occasion for the slaughter, after a “wise man” warns the king. Says Josephus about Moses, “he shall escape those who are watching to destroy him, and, reared in a marvelous way, he shall deliver the Hebrew race from their bondage.”

Now back to Matthew’s Gospel. There, an angel then notifies Jesus’ parents when Herod is dead so they can safely return home from Egypt. This command alludes directly to the instruction God gave Moses to return from exile in Median (see today’s verse, above).

Matthew’s penchant for midrash and for scriptural fulfillment leaves no doubt as to how he conceived the story of Jesus’ birth, and his first readers never imagined that Matthew’s story happened literally. Few Christians of the first century and early second century believed the Bible meant Jesus really was born of a virgin, but understood that Matthew was tying Jesus to revered men of the past. Somewhere along the way, however, our appreciation for honorific myth and midrash dissipated; 1,900 years later, most Christians today believe the virgin birth story happened exactly as written.

I love this time of year. I love seeing the manger scenes and the celebration of our Lord’s arrival. But I love them more, knowing I don’t have to suspend reason and believe literally in the story. I don’t have to worry about whether it should be a manger or a house, whether shepherds belong with the wise men, or whether there were even three wise men in the first place. I can appreciate the meaningful, glorious, beautiful, honorific story it’s meant to be without trying to squeeze it into a historical event.

Fantasy Football, Anyone?

Put on the whole uniform of the Team, that ye may be able to stand against the blitz of oncoming linebackers. Don the hip pads of truth, the shoulder pads of righteousness, the cleats of preparation. Don’t forget the facemask of faith and the helmet of salvation. Then clutch the pigskin with much Spirit, for that is what the Play Book of your Coach in Heaven demands.

The River of Life

Twice before Lee Harmon has written about Christian topics, once on the gospel of John and once on the book of Revelation. But the question people keep asking him is this: As a liberal Christian, why do you care so much about the Bible? Others wonder whether he is truly a Christian at all.

The Way It Happened

What really happened 2,000 years ago? How did a persecuted minority of end-time believers known as Christians, with their dreams of Armageddon and a conquering Messiah named Jesus, evolve into the largest religion in the world? Author Lee Harmon explores the period in which the New Testament was written in his books about John's Gospel and Revelation.

(Bloggers: you may be eligible for a free review copy! Just contact us.)

Connect With Me!

A Top-100 Christian Blog

Named an Exceptional Website for Christian Theologians

Our Top Book Picks

Selected by The Dubious Disciple as Best Religion Books. Don't miss these!

Subscribers:

The God Show

Lee Harmon interviewed on The God Show about the History Channel's miniseries The Bible and Lee's latest book, John's Gospel: The Way It Happened.

Archives By Month

Archives By Month

Archives By Category

Archives By Category

About Lee

Hello! I'm an author, historical Jesus scholar, book reviewer, and liberal Christian, which means I appreciate and attempt to exercise the humanitarian teachings of Jesus without getting hung up on any particular supernatural or religious beliefs.
The Bible is a magnificent book that has inspired and spiritually fed generations for thousands of years, and each new century seems to bring a deeper understanding of life’s purpose. This is true of not only Christianity; through the years, our age-old religions are slowly transforming from superstitious rituals into humanitarian philosophies. In short, we are growing up, and I am thrilled to be riding the wave.
I avidly read all thought-provoking religion titles. New authors: I'd love to read and review your book!Contact me here.

About Leslie

Hi! While Lee writes the articles and reviews the books, I edit, organize, and maintain the blog. The views expressed here are Lee's but I'm his biggest supporter! :-)

For Authors & Publishers

Most of the reviews on this blog are provided in exchange for free books, either new publication, pre-publication or early review copies. This disclaimer is posted in accordance with the guidelines of the Federal Trade Commission
If you would like your book reviewed by The Dubious Disciple, please contact me first by email with a few words of description. Dubious Disciple reviews feed Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn followers, and duplicate on Amazon, Librarything and GoodReads.
Contact me here.